Identification of a Long Rice Spikelet Mutant

A spontaneously occurring rice (Oryza sativa L.) mutant, characterized by homeotic conversion in glumes and stamens, was found in the progeny of a cross. The mutant showed long glumes and glumaceous lodicules and morphological transformation of stamens into pistils. Mutant florets consisted of 1 to 3 completely developed pistils, some pistilloid stamens with filaments, but tipped by bulged tissue and 0 to 3 stigmas. It seems that the mutant phenotype of the homeotic conversions in glumes and stamens is similar to that of the B loss-of-function mutants in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum. The mutant is controlled by a single recessive gene as a segregation ratio of 3:1 (wild type to mutant plants) was observed in the F2 generation.     

Long Evans鼠初级视皮层眼优势柱可塑性的发育性变化

目的：利用电生理学技术探讨Long Evans大鼠视皮层眼优势柱可塑性的发育性交化。方法：取22d Long Evans大鼠7只和100d Long Evans大鼠5只，通过缝合一侧眼睑建立单眼剥夺大鼠动物模型。利用电生理学技术检测22d正常大鼠、22d单眼剥夺大鼠、100d正常大鼠、100d单眼剥夺大鼠眼优势柱的分布。结果：正常22d Long Evans大鼠、正常100d Long Evans大鼠和100d单眼剥夺大鼠视皮层眼优势柱分布为对侧眼优势．22d单眼剥夺大鼠视皮层眼优势柱分布为同侧眼优势。结论：正常视觉环境下发育的Long Evans大鼠，其眼优势柱的分布为对侧眼优势，幼年Long Evans大鼠视皮层具有可塑性，异常的视觉环境能影响其眼优势柱的分布；成年Long Evans大鼠视觉可塑性终止，异常的视觉环境不能再影响其眼优势柱的分布。     

Long Evans鼠初级视皮层眼优势柱可塑性的发育性变化

目的:利用电生理学技术探讨Long Evans大鼠视皮层眼优势柱可塑性的发育性变化。方法:取22d Long Evans大鼠7只和100d Long Evans大鼠5只,通过缝合一侧眼睑建立单眼剥夺大鼠动物模型。利用电生理学技术检测22 d正常大鼠、22 d单眼剥夺大鼠、100 d正常大鼠、100 d单眼剥夺大鼠眼优势柱的分布。结果:正常22 d Long Evans大鼠、正常100 d Long Evans大鼠和100 d单眼剥夺大鼠视皮层眼优势柱分布为对侧眼优势,22 d单眼剥夺大鼠视皮层眼优势柱分布为同侧眼优势。结论:正常视觉环境下发育的Long Evans大鼠,其眼优势柱的分布为对侧眼优势,幼年Long Evans大鼠视皮层具有可塑性,异常的视觉环境能影响其眼优势柱的分布;成年Long Evans大鼠视觉可塑性终止,异常的视觉环境不能再影响其眼优势柱的分布。     

Long Chain Acyl-Coenzyme A Synthetase 4 （BnLACS4） Gene from Brassica napus Enhances the Yeast Lipid Contents

Long-chain acyl-Coenzyme A （CoA） synthetases （LACSs） catalyze the formation of long-chain acyl-CoA, and play important roles in fatty acid metabolism including phospholipids, triacylglycerol （TAG） biosynthesis and fatty acid 13-oxidation. Here, we report the characterization of a LACS gene from Brassica napus. It is highly homologous to Arabidopsis LACS4 and thus designated as BnLACS4. The cloned gene BnLACS4 could complement a LACS-deficient yeast strain YB525. It is mainly expressed in flowers and developing seeds where lipid biosynthesis is at high rate in Brassiea napus. When transiently expressed in tobacco leaves, BnLACS4 is localized in endoplasmic reticulum （ER）, the common site for eukaryotic pathway of lipid biosynthesis. Expression of BnLACS4 in the yeast strain pep4 increased its lipid content. Taken together, our results suggest that BnLACS4 may be involved in lipid biosynthesis in B. napus.     

The Role of Traditional Irrigation Canals in a Long Term Environmental Perspective A Case Study in Southern France： The Durance Basin

The agricultural sector is often considered to be the largest water consumer and the policy aimed at saving irrigation water exists across Europe. The flip-side of such policy, however, is the disappearance of traditional irrigation canals since farmers are encouraged to turn to drip irrigation and overhead irrigation gradually. Given this, we would like to argue that traditional irrigation canals need to be reexamined. Such canals are not only built aquatic infrastructure, they are also the product of a culture and social relationship with water in the Mediterranean region. Canals form a complex system which is driven by environmental, economic and social factors. Our sociological and environmental research in Provence （and around the Durance basin more specifically） points up how the very dense territorial network of gravity-fed canals is useful in water management, as well as in other shared uses over the long-term. The findings underscore the positive environmental role played by these historical and anthropogenic constructions. They contribute to refilling the aquifer and also act as a valuable environmental good and service （e.g., run-off regulation, biodiversity, landscape, recreation, etc.）. Further, several local actors have underscored their role as part of an intangible cultural heritage and as important for the area＇s economic and social development. Such canals play a central role in sustainable development since beyond their productive role in agriculture, they play a social role （new uses） and an ecological role （as reservoirs for biodiversity and ecological corridors）.